Lord, Have Mercy on Us

The oldest preserved complete transcription of the hymn from the late 14th century

Hospodine pomiluj ny (English: Lord, Have Mercy on Us) is the oldest known Czech song. The hymn is a paraphrase of the Kyrie Eleison with deep choral melody, the song is very impressive. Its text preserves traces of Church Slavonic origin.

History

Author of the song, dating from the turn of 10/11th century, is unknown. The text has simple form with 8 verses, without rhyme or stanzas. Its definitive version comes from time when Old Church Slavonic competed with Latin and absorbed Czech components. Saint Adalbert is sometimes ascribed as the author; while it may possible it is not confirmed.

First mention of the choral comes from 1055 when it was sung during election of duke Spytihněv II of Bohemia. The oldest recording appears in chronicle of Jan from Holešov from 1397. It was also sung during celebrations and as a war song. Charles IV used it during his coronation, Jan Hus during sermons given in Bethlehem Chapel in Prague. Together with Saint Wenceslas Chorale it is one of the first Czech national anthems. The song, almost unmodified, is still used during liturgy.

The Text

In modern Czech orthography: explanatory notes

Hospodine pomiluj ny
Hospodine, pomiluj ny,
Jezu Kriste, pomiluj ny, 
ty Spase všeho míra, 
spasiž ny, i uslyšiž, 
Hospodine, hlasy nášě ; 
daj nám všém, Hospodine, 
žizň a mír v zemi ; 
žizň a mír v zemi. 
Krleš, Krleš, Krleš !

Latin translation: source

O Domine, miserere 
O Domine, miserere,
Iesu Christe, miserere, 
Salus es totius mundi, 
salva nos et percipe, 
o Domine, voces nostras ; 
da cunctis, o Domine, 
panem, pacem terrae ; 
panem, pacem terrae. 
Kyrie eleison ! 

(translated by M. B. Boleluczky)

English translation:

Lord, have mercy on us
Lord, have mercy on us,
Jesus Christ, have mercy on us,
Savior of the whole world,
have mercy on us and hear, 
O Lord, our voices;
Lord, give to all of us
life and peace in our land,
life and peace in our land.
Kyrie Eleison !

Notes

References

External links

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